What is 10 plus negative 17?

• A. -7
• B. 7
• C. -27
• D. 0

Answer: (A)

When you add a positive number and a negative number, think of it as subtracting the smaller magnitude from the larger and keeping the sign of the larger magnitude. Here, 10 plus negative 17 is 10 - 17 = -7. The larger magnitude is 17 and it's negative, so the result is negative.

A helpful way to picture it is on a number line: start at 10 and move 17 units to the left, ending at -7. The other options don’t fit because they would come from adding the magnitudes in the opposite way or from wanting a cancellation that isn’t present here.